Pneumatic jump boot construction



o. c. Rizzo 2,968,165

PNEUMATIC JUMP BOOT CONSTRUCTION Jan. 17, 1961 Filed March `5, 1959 gg I i/ 3 INVENTOR. 447 i 50 @5J/MPJ@ 5,' ff/zzo lk Z4 United States Patent O PNEUMATIC JUMP BOOT CONSTRUCTION Olympio C. Rizzo, North Bergen, NJ. (269 Cator Ave., Jersey City 5, N5.)

Filed Mar. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 796,916

1 Claim. (Cl. 36-2.5)

This invention relates to boots and, more particularly, to jump type boots.

Ordinarily, severe shocks are imparted to the feet and limbs of service personnel landing upon the ground after parachuting from an aircraft. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a jum-p boot that is particularly suited for cushioning severe impact forces ordinarily transmitted to the feet upon landing after a fall from substantial heights.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a jump boot having scientifically arranged cushion elements in the sole and upper portions that will minimize shocks transmitted to the feet in substantially any direction.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a jump boot of the type described that can be manufactured and fabricated in large quantities at a relatively low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a fragmentary perspective view of a jump boot made in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure l; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of certain parts of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing, a jump boot made in accordance with the present invention is shown to include an upper 12 having laces 13 for tightly securing the upper to a foot. The front end of the upper 12 is provided with a cushion pad 14 for cushioning any shocks imparted to the toes. The bottom surface of the upper 12 is provided with a leather lining 16 attached directly to a resilient layer 18 which also serves to waterproof the interior of the upper.

A resilient wedge block 20 provides a heel at the rear end of the upper and is carried directly upon the top surface of a resilient layer 22, to which the layer 18 is also secured at its front end.

The resilient layer 22 forms one side of an upper cushion part that is substantially identical in construction to a lower cushion part separated therefrom by a resilient membrane 26. The upper cushion part aside from the upper resilient layer 22, includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart laterally extending ribs 28 that defines air spaces 32 throughout the entire length ice of the sole 46 that is attached to the bottom surface of the resilient layer 24 of the lower cushion part. The lower cushion part also includes similar longitudinally spaced apart and laterally extending ribs 30 that define similar air spaces 34. In addition, each cushion part is provided with a resilient toe block 36, 38 and a resilient heel block 40, 42, respectively. A thin layer 44 of resilient material encases the upper and lower cushion parts, together with the resilient wedge block, as shown in Figure l, to prevent the entry of moisture and other foreign matter into the interstices between the respective elements, and to further enhance the appearance of the boot. The substantially flat sole 46, of generally uniform thickness, is attached to the bottom of the lower cushion part, in the manner clearly shown in Figure 2.

It will now be recognized that all vulnerable parts of the boot are protected by cushion elements of particular design. The laterally extending ribs 28, 30 not only serve to cushion any shocks against the bottom of the sole 46, but also provide compressible air spaces that contribute to the cushion effect of the shoe. Any shocks imparted to the front or rear portions of the shoe are further cushioned by the terminal blocks 36, 38, 40, 42, and the toes are amply protected by the resilient cushion 14 within the front end of the upper. ln addition, the various cushion elements, which are preferably constructed from molded foam rubber, tend to waterproof the shoe and retain body heat therewithin so as to particularly adapt this type of boot for use in cold climates.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to the construction shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that Stich is not to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, which is best defined by the claim appended hereto.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

A jump boot comprising, in combination, a laced upper, a sole, a cushion connected between said sole and said upper, a wedge block forming a heel support integrally connected between said cushion and said upper adjacent to one rear end of said upper, said sole comprising a substantially flat resilient pad secured to the bottom of said cushion, said cushion comprising an upper cushion part, a lower cushion part, and a resilient layer separating said upper and lower cushion parts, and an exterior resilient strip enclosing said upper and lower cushion parts and said wedge block, said resilient strip extending completely around the periphery of said upper and lower cushion parts and said wedge block.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,869,257 Hitzler July 26, 1932 2,189,813 McGuire Feb. 13, 1940 2,304,236 l Braun Dec. 8, 1942 2,307,402 Gregg Jan. 5, 1943 2,412,623 Maling Dec. 17, 1946 2,677,906 Reed May l1, 1954 2,845,640 Murray Aug. 5, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 189,623 Great Britain Dec. 12, 1922 

